Preparing for the New Year - Pt. 2

 

After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:1-9 ESV).

 

As we move closer each day this week to the celebration of a New Year, I have a particular verse I would encourage you to adopt as you face the coming days. It has been my personal “life verse” for over fifty years. It is taken from the reading I’ve chosen for today, though it is found in Deuteronomy. As Moses gives instructions to Joshua for the taking of the new land and settling the people within it, he says: Do not fear them or be in dread of them, for the Lord your God will go before you; He will not fail you or forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6). It is the truth that banishes our discouragement in any circumstance.

 

On the first day of a New Year many of us wish each other a "Happy New Year!" However, as we begin a new year, we need more than a hopeful greeting from the people around us. We need to listen to what God told Joshua about 3,400 years ago. As Joshua was about to lead God's people into the Promised Land he had reason to be afraid. He had an enormous task ahead of him, and he was well aware of the dangers that he and the people would soon be facing. He needed God's encouragement. A new year brings lots of questions.  The Creator of the universe comes to us and says, "Don't be afraid; don't be discouraged." What happens in this coming year is not left to chance. God is in charge. He will not… can not… fail us!